About this Blog: Bread making recipes, knit and crochet projects, wood working, gardening, digital imaging, travel, cruise ships, Labrador Retrievers, and more....

About the Header Image: Idlebrook Wendy Darling Evensen "Wendy" one of our four Labrador Retrievers.

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Thursday, January 31, 2019

Happy 14th Birthday to Penny

Good morning,

Happy 14th Birthday to Penny today!

Penny is on the right in the picture above.  Penny, Erik, and Wendy were watching Daddy eat his lunch while watching the news on TV in the living room.  You never know when something might fall off of that plate!

:),
Lois





Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Snow Melted and Gone - for Awhile

Good morning,

While out for a walk it was good to see the snow has melted from the houses.  Now the severe cold is on the way....  *sigh*

Happy Winter,

Lois




Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Rosey Sunrise

Good morning,

We have had some beautiful sunrises this week.  This one cast rosey light through our front door and into our entrance hall.

So pretty!

Lois




Monday, January 28, 2019

Please Meet Elsa

Good morning,

Please meet Elsa, the sweet little Yellow Labrador Retriever who will be joining our family in March.  She's three weeks old now and her eyes have just opened.  We will meet her in person next weekend.

Elsa is from Millstone Labradors, the same breeder where we got our Penny nearly 14 years ago.  Elsa has one brother (yellow) and five sisters (black.)

Alicia Miller owns Millstone Labradors.  She's a friend and a member of our local AKC club, Queen City Dog Training Club.  Alicia posts pictures of the puppies and I check in to get my "puppy fix" every day.  I wasn't able to post a direct link from here on my blog, but if you're on Facebook, you can find her Facebook Page (and lots of puppy pictures) by searching for Alicia Miller Harrison Ohio.

Of course, I'll have many more images of Elsa coming soon!  Photo credit for today's image goes to Alicia.

:),
Lois


Sunday, January 27, 2019

T-Shirt Finally Arrived!

Good morning,

This is pretty cool.  Catherine's t-shirt just arrived from the Dock Diving Championship last month in Orlando, Florida.  The shirt marks Catherine's participation with Wendy.

Catherine will wear this throughout the year to other dog training and show events.

So very cool!

:),
Lois




Saturday, January 26, 2019

Falling Asleep - So Comfy

Good morning,

I took this picture last night as Wendy was falling asleep in a chair in our sitting room.  I just love that little pink tongue that is out just a little bit as she falls asleep.

This is the same "flying Labrador" from the dock diving posts earlier this week.

Sweet.

:),
Lois

Friday, January 25, 2019

Finishing the Pink and Green Afghan Blanket

Good morning,

Last week I showed you the squares I was working on for this couch or bed size afghan blanket.  Finally the yarn arrived that I needed to put it all together.  At this writing I have 14 of 80 squares put together.  Then I'll add the scalloped border and it will be finished.  I'm enjoying the warmth of this blanket as I am working on it on this very cold day!

One of our blog readers liked what she saw last week and has bought this one, but there are more pretty afghan blankets available to ship in our shop, EvensensProductions.com

The Afghan Blankets Section is here.  Click the link and scroll down.

I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

All the best,
Lois

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Snow Day

Good morning,

We have had quite a bit of snow lately.  The pups don't mind going out in the snow, but the bitter cold has brought them in quickly. 

When I took this picture the plows had been by, but they weren't able to clear the street because of the layer of ice beneath the snow.  We stayed home that day. 

Retirement is good!

Lois

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Waiting Room Knitting - Basket Weave Tunic Sweater

Good morning,

This is the current waiting room knitting project.  I'm finishing an afghan at home because it is too large to carry around with me. So, this basket weave tunic sweater is the current "go" project.  It's a special order so already has a home when finished.  I generally have several different types of projects going at the same time anyway just to keep some variety from repetitive movements for my fingers.

If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, what are you making on these cold days?  If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, you're surely out enjoying beautiful weather!

Lois

Update:  I've been asked about my sweaters.  We have many sweaters in a variety of sizes available to ship now.  Come take a look!  EvensensProductions.com


Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Morning Sun

Good morning,

This morning the sun came up and reflected beautifully on the snow on the ground to  light the leaded glass window in our main staircase.  This window is on the back of the house.  The morning sun is on the front of the house.  Without the snow on the ground providing the reflected light, this window would be dark at this time of the day.

So pretty!

Happy Winter!

Lois





Monday, January 21, 2019

Just Out of the Shower

Good morning,

Here's Erik, just in from the snow outside.  I always dry them off when they come in from the rain or snow.  He likes being wrapped in his towel.  He's ready to settle down with his unicorn for the night.

Is that sweet or what....

Lois




Sunday, January 20, 2019

More Snow - Again

Good morning,

Here we go again.  I took this image last night when I opened the door to let the pups out for a potty trip.  None of them wanted to go out as you can see from the lack of paw prints.

The snow continues.  I hope it is under control before our Cincinnati Pops concert later today....

Stay warm and comfy, wherever you are!

Lois

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Dock Diving - Day Two

Good morning,

Today's images are of Wendy's second jump at the Dock Diving Invitational Events in Orlando, Florida, last month.
At home she literally flies down the main staircase and launches from about step number eight to the first floor.
We call her our Flying Labrador.
It appears she can also walk on water.  ;)
Splash Down!
She absolutely loves this!
 Here she comes!

 You can see the distance markers on the side of the pool.

 At home Wendy practices outside in a real lake.  It's too cold now, but in the Spring she'll be back out there again. 

That's it!  Our sweet little Wendy truly loves the water.

:),
Lois

Friday, January 18, 2019

Wendy the Dock Diver

Good morning,

Today's images are of our Wendy at the Dock Diving Invitational in Orlando, Florida, last month.  Only dogs who had achieved qualifying points during the year were invited to participate.
Today's series of images is of one of her "splashes."
I just love her concentration and her ears are a hoot!

 Splash Down!
 Almost...
 Almost...
 Almost...
 Got it!
 Wendy absolutely loves doing this.  When she sees the pool she immediately wants to jump!

She didn't win any awards this time, but it was wonderful practice for another year.

Such fun!

:),
Lois

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Back to Green and Pink

Good morning,

The Tissue Toppers are finished and listed in the shop - see yesterday's post.

I'm finally back on the lavender-pink and green afghan blanket.  These colors are just so pretty together!  It will be another few days and this will also be finished and listed in the shop.  It's a bed, couch, recliner size and prefect colors for Valentine's Day. 

What are you working on now?

All the best,
Lois

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Toilet Tissue Toppers

Good morning,

For some reason our Toilet Tissue Toppers have been very popular in the shop this week so I've spent a couple of days restocking.  I still have to add ribbons to the white and lavender toppers in the image, photograph/format the photos, and write listings for them all.

Check them out in the shop here.    Click the link and scroll down.

:),
Lois

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Snow Day Fish Soup

Good morning,

My Honey was in the kitchen yesterday and made cod and shrimp soup.  Ah, yes, perfect for a snow day!

:),
Lois

Monday, January 14, 2019

Snowmaggedon Day 2

Good morning,

Here's day two.  We are up to 8 to 9 inches now. 

The streets look pretty white to me!  Unless there are plows and salt trucks out there soon, we'll be staying home today.

Stay warm!

Lois




Sunday, January 13, 2019

No Cookout Today


Good morning,

The snow has just started.  It's a wet snow and will probably melt quickly.  I've been out to get wood for the fire and you can see the pups are patrolling the patio today, too. 

Stay warm, wherever you are!

Lois

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Past Her Bedtime

Good morning,

I took this picture last night.  Catherine and I were watching a movie in the living room and Wendy wanted to be part of the family movie night.  She just couldn't stay awake.

So cute!

Lois

Friday, January 11, 2019

Shirt from Santa

Good morning,

Santa has a sense of humor, doesn't he!  This is on a t-shirt I received for Christmas.

Well, I'll not kill people, but I do find knitting very soothing!

;),

Lois

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Waiting for Midnight

Good morning,

This is a flashback to New Years Eve.  We had finished dinner and were trying to stay awake to midnight so put on a movie to watch while the time ticked by.

As you can see, staying awake was a challenge.  That's Penny, Catherine, and Erik on the floor....
Of course, Miss Wendy is on the couch looking very comfy indeed!

;),
Lois

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Standing Rib Roast

Good evening,

We do eat well here.  That's a standing rib roast that Catherine prepared.
It was perfect!  We like our beef rare and this was just right.
My parents would have enjoyed all of these meals.  I'm delighted to be using so many of my mother's things.  In this image are her tablecloth, glassware, flatware, and the serving bowl with the blue design in the center of the table.  

All the best,
Lois

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Fuzzy View

Good morning,

Each time I build a fire in the fireplace I sit down for awhile to be sure it is burning the way I want it to burn and that the logs are safely stacked. 

All of a sudden my view became very fuzzy.  Yes, that's Wendy who "landed" on the couch next to me after a champion leap over the arm rest. 

Sweet!

:),
Lois

Monday, January 7, 2019

Another Appetizer and a Beautiful Heirloom Tablecloth

Good morning,

Catherine made salami and cream cheese rolls for one of our holiday dinners. 

I served it on an embroidered linen tablecloth that I inherited from my mother. I'm not sure if it was my mother or grandmother who embroidered it, but it is beautiful.  It is very small so when I use it on a dinner table I put it in the middle and over a plain table cloth.

I remember my mother teaching me the lazy daisy stitch.  There are so many of them on this pretty cloth.

Isn't it wonderful to have items that have been handed down from those wonderful women who taught us so much!

All the best, 
Lois

Sunday, January 6, 2019

My Helper and Faithful Companion

Good morning,

Here she is again.  This is Miss Wendy who climbs up in Daddy's chair to be next to me while I'm working at my computer and Daddy is in his wood workshop downstairs.

Wendy is getting all grown up now. 

And, a little inside information, she'll have a new little sister in about eight weeks.  ;)

Lois

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Blue Skies on a Clear Winter Day

Good morning,

The weather has changed from very cold to very warm this Fall and Winter.  We have had some lovely clear, warm days and some gray, cold days. 

What we haven't had is enough snow to make a difference and for that I am grateful.

I hope we continue to have a mild winter.  I also hope the weather isn't too extreme wherever you are.

All the best,
Lois